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Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act of 2026
H. R. 5578
Summary
The bill protects contractors, subcontractors, grantees, and their employees from retaliation when they refuse to obey orders that would violate laws or regulations, or when they report evidence of contract mismanagement, waste of federal funds, abuse of authority, legal violations, or dangers to public health and safety. It expands the definition of protected individuals under federal whistleblower law to include various categories of federal contractors and their workers across defense and civilian agencies. The legislation prohibits federal officials from requesting contractors retaliate against whistleblowers and prevents whistleblower protections from being waived through agreements or employment policies. The Congressional Budget Office estimates implementation costs would be less than $500,000 over the 2026-2030 period.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
1 cosponsor
- Rep. Comer, James [R-KY-1] (R-KY)
Money behind the sponsor
Top reported contributors to Robert Garcia’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.
- NULL $14,250
- WATERFORD PROPERTY COMPANY $13,200
- SHANGRI-LA INDUSTRIES $9,900
- CURTIN MARITIME $9,900
- LEE ANDREWS GROUP $7,600
Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for Robert Garcia → · Outside spending →
Actions (11)
- Jul 21, 2026 Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 465. · senate
- Jul 20, 2026 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. · house
- Jul 20, 2026 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4664-4665) · house
- Jul 20, 2026 Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4664-4665)
- Jul 20, 2026 DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5578. · house
- Jul 20, 2026 Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4664-4666) · house
- Jul 20, 2026 Mr. Burlison moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. · house
- Dec 2, 2025 Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 44 - 0. · house
- Dec 2, 2025 Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held · house
- Sep 26, 2025 Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. · house
- Sep 26, 2025 Introduced in House
More bills on these subjects (8)
Other bills that carry the most legislative subjects in common with this one (topical discovery — distinct from the procedural related bills above).
Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Text versions (3)
Bills are re-published as they move (Introduced → Reported → Engrossed → Enrolled …). Each stage below is a separate text; pick two to see what changed. Data from Congress.gov.
Full text
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 21, 2026
Received; read twice and placed on the calendar
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